Buffing machine



June 6, 1933. N. H. KNOWLTON BUFFING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l h. om-q MMW' June 6, 1933.

N. H. KNOWLTON BUFF'ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 Fig. 2.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1933. KNQWLTON 1,912,528

BUFFING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5.

June 6, 1933. KNOWLTON 1,912,528

BUFFING MACHINE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORWOOD I-I. KNOWLTON, OF ROCKEOR'I, MASSAOI'IUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEVI JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY IBUEFING MACHINE Application filed August 15, 1929. Serial No. 386,026.

The present invention relates to bufling machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine especially adapted for buffing the panel portions of so-called pane-led heel breast coverings.

There has recently been developed a type of heel breast covering known as a paneled covering comprising a panel or main section arranged to cover the greater part of the breast surface of the heel, and separate and relatively narrow outer or edge sections (usually consisting of the end portions of the side covering which. have been turned inwardly over the breast corners) which serve as lateral edge frames for the panel. In some cases the adjacent margins, both of the frame and of the panel portions of the breast covering, are tucked into grooves which are formed in the heel breast adjacent and suhstanti ally parallel to the lateral breast edges of the heel and in such a construction more or less well defined creases are formed between the frame portions and the panel portion of the breast covering. In other cases the frame portions of the breast covering merely abut the adjacent edges of the panel portion so that no crease-s or shoulders are formed at the joints between these portions of the breast covering. Regardless, however, of the particular type of paneled breast covering employed, the panel portion is usually of a lighter color or of a character more easily soiled than the frame portions of the covering. Moreover, various operations are performed upon the heel coverings after they have been applied to the heel, which operations unavoidably result in soil- .ing or discoloring the panel portions ofthe coverings. It is desirable therefore to clean, for example by buffing operations, the panel pea'tions of the coverings after they have been applied to the leads and operated upon as above described. It is also desirable to a void bul'ling or cleaning the adjacent frame portions of the breast coverings inasmuch as the latter are usually of such a character that a bufing or cleaning operation would re% suit in marring the finish of'those portions of the covering. In view of the foregoing, one object of this invention is to provide a machine for per+ forming cleaning or buffing operations upo'n heel breas surfaces without danger of damaging the heel of the shoe being treated.

In accordance with this object, one'featur of the present invention consists in the p1 vision of a guide in cooperative rel ationto an abrasive buffing element for retaininga shoe in such relation to the bufiing element as not to damage the heel of the shoe in the course of bufling the heelbreast surface. In most types of paneled heel breast coverings a shoulder or a crease is presented at the meet ing of the panel portion with each of the frame portions of theheel breast. and in the illustrated machine the i above-mentioned guide is provided with. a pointed end (for en: gaging the shoulder or crease toiposition the heel with respect to the bnfling tool so that; the h-ufling tool will operate upon the panel portion without engaging the frame portion of the heel breast. a n A suction draft hood is-preferably provided to receive the dust carried byithe blast of air issuing from the nozzle. Theseand other featuresofthe invention will be more fully described and pointed out in the accompanying specification and draw ings,. in which r v p i Fig. 1 is a front elevational view partly in section showing a machine embodying ap plicants invention; I 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in 1; i 3 is an enlarged front elevational view partly in section of a portion of the machine including a bufling tool;

Figs. l, 5 and 6 areperspective views illustratin the application of the bufling tool of the machine upon the heel breast covering of the shoe;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a bufling tool spindle and an abrasive covering therefor prior to being wrapped about the spindle; and

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the machine showing a suction draft hood for receiving dust from the work.

The machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a hollow frame 10 the lower portion of which carries a bracket 12. Mounted upon the bracket 12 is a motor 14 having an armature shaft 16 which extends within the frame 10. Mounted upon the shaft 16 is a pulley having a pair of crowned portions 18 and 20 over which run belts 22 and 24 respectively. In the upper portion of the frame 10 are bearings 23 and 25 in which is journaled a shaft 26 having mounted thereupon a pulley 28. Below the level of the shaft 26 the frame 10 carries bearings 27 and 29, in which is journaled a shaft 30' having mounted thereon a pulley 32. The belt 22 passes over the pulley 28 and thus drives the shaft 26, and the belt 24 passes over the pulley 32 and thus drives the shaft 30. The shaft 30 extends outside of the frame 10. and

has fixed upon its outer end a spindle 34 upon which is mounted, as will hereinafter be described, a sheet of abrasive material 36 which constitutes a buffing tool.

The shaft 26 extends out through each side of the housing 10. Upon one end of the shaft 26 is secureda spindle or holder 38 of smaller diameter than the spindle 34 and having mounted thereon an abrasive covering 40 which, together with the spindle, constitutes a bufiing tool. Surrounding the outer portion of the shaft 26 and clamped by a bolt 41 (Fig. 3) upon a cylindrical extension of the frame 10 is an annular housing 42 within which is clamped a sleeve 44 having a shoulder 46; and surrounding the outer portion of the sleeve 44 is a ring 48, the latter being clamped upon the sleeve 44 by means of a set screw 50. A retaining ring 49 prevents axial movement of the ring 48 outwardly, while the shoulder 46 holds the ring 48 against inward axial movement. A bracket 52 is clamped upon the ring 48 by means of a bolt 54, and extends outwardly and parallel to the axis of the shaft 26. A second bracket 58 is secured to the bracket 52 by means of a clamping screw 57 extending through a slot 59 in the end of the bracket 58. the slot 59 being radial with respect to the axis of the spindle 38. The bracket 58 has formed in its upper surface a longitudinal groove 60 (Fig. 4) which receives the shank 62 of a gage member or guide 64, the shank 62 being clamped in the groove 60 by means of a pair of screws 66, the heads of which overhang the shank 62. The gage 64 is hook shaped, its operative end extending to a point beyond the end of the spindle 38.

As shown in Fig. 3, a longitudinal slot 68 extends diametrically through the spindle 38 for receiving the abrasive cover 40. The base of the slot 68, as shown at 69 in Fig. 7, is V-shaped. The abrasive cover 40 is cut in the form of a rectangle with one pair of diametrically opposite corners cut away to form oblique edges, one of which oblique edges, indicated at 70 on Figs. 3 and 7, will overlap the cover 40 when the latter is secured upon the spindle 38. oblique edge is indicated at 71 on Fig. 7 The abrasive cover 40 after having been threaded through the slot 68 and having been wrapped about the spindle 38, is secured in this position by means of a rubber band 7 2- which may be cut from a piece of tubing. The advantage of the edge 70 being oblique resides in the fact that the portion of the cover adjacent to this edge will not tend to flap loose. The edge 71, on the other hand, is more easily threaded through the slot 68 by reason of being oblique. The edge 71 of the abrasive cover engages the adjacent edge of the Vshaped base 69 of the slot 38 when the cover is fully inserted. The V-shaped base 69 serves to increase the effective length of the slot 68 without unduly weakening the spindle 38. The abrasive cover 40 extends a short distance, a quarter of an inch having been found convenient, beyond the end of the spindle 38, the extended portion of the cover constituting a flexible buffing tool. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the gage 64 is so mounted upon the bracket 58 that the operative end of the gage 64 is spaced from the end of the spindle 38 by a distance very slightly greater than the length of the portion of the cover 40 which is unsupported by the spindle 38.

In other words, the cover 40 extends very 3% close to and all but touches the operative end of the gage 64. The tip end 74 of the gage 64 is pointed outwardly to enable it to enter the crease, in the case of shoes presenting such a crease, between the frame and panel portions of the heel breast covering, and a recess 76 is formed in the gage 64 adjacent to the outwardly turned end 74 for receiving a frame portion. The gage 64 may be clamped bv the screws 66 in any desired position of adjustment longitudinally with respect to the spindle and may also be adjusted angularly about the axis of the spindle by rotating the ring 48 and then clamping it by the set screw 50 in position to secure the desired adjustment. The above mentioned screw 57 and. slot 59 provide for radial adjustment of the gage 64 with respect to the axis of the spindle 38. It will be noted that when the gage 64 is secured in its operating position, the outwardly pointed end 7-4 is directed away from the axis of the tool.

The abrasive sheet 36 upon the spindle 34 The other is similar to the above described abrasive sheet 40 and is similarly secured upon the spindle 34 by means of a rubber band 78, the abrasive cover 36 also overhanging the end of the spindle 34. The spindle 34, however, is of greater diameter than the spindle 38 to enable the abrasive cover 36 to buff the major portion of a panel of a breast covering rapidly while the purpose of the abrasive cover 40 on the spindle 38 is to bufl those portions of the panel which are adjacent to the frame portions of the breast covering and where great care must be exercised to avoid injury to the frame portions.

The operation of the machine upon a shoe S having a heel H is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. In the particular type of shoe shown in the above-mentioned figures the side cover of the heel has its marginal portions extending around the breast corners of the heel to form the frame portions F of a pan cled heel breast, and the breast of the heel H is grooved adjacent to each of the heel breast edges to receive the ends of the side covering. The panel portion P of the heel breast has its lateral ends tucked into the same grooves which receive the ends of the side covering. A crease is thus presented at the meeting of the panel and frame portions of the heel breast.

In the use of either of the abrasive tools of the illustrated machine, the operator presents the breast surface of the heel H to the tool at an inclination to the axis of the tool so that the tool can pass over one of, the frame portions Fwithout touching it; and the flexible. end portion of the abrasive cover will flatten out upon engagement with the work so as to present a substantial effective area to the work rather than a mere cylindrical edge. The presentation of the heel at an inclination is best shown in Fig. 3, which shows the tool comprising the abrasive cover 40 in operation. The flattening of the flexible end portion of the abrasive cover is shown at 79 in Fig. 5, which shows the tool comprising the abrasive cover 36 in operation. Although Figs. 3 and 5 illustrate the operation with respect to separate tools respectively, the

work is presented at an inclination regardless of which tool is employed, and the flexible end portion of the tool will flatten regardless of whichtool is employed.

For bufling the central portion of the panel P, the larger tool, comprising the abrasive cover 36 is employed, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the case of heels having a scallop. such as the illustrated heel H. the same tool may be employed as shown in Flg. 6. For buffing the portions of the panel P which. are adjacent to. the frames F, the smaller tool. comprising the abrasive cover 40, is employed. The outwardly turned end'74 of the gage 64, by entering the above-mentioned crease between the panel P and a frame F, will position the heel H with respect to the tool so that the tool will' operate only upon the panel P without damaging the frame F. The recess 76 of the gage 64 receives the frame F and thus assists the end 74 in positioning the work. In the illustrated heel H, as above stated, a crease is formed at the meeting of the frame and panel portions of the breast covering. It will be noted that the frame F and the panel P present a pair of opposing shoulders between which is the crease. In certain types of heels other than the type illustrated, grooves are not provided for tucking in the edges of the frame and panel portions, and no crease may be presented. Such heels may, however, present a shoulder at the meeting of the panel P with one of the frames F, and such a shoulder, no matter which way it faces, will serve to cooperate with the end 74 of the gage 64 almost as conveniently as does a crease between a pair of shoulders. Such a shoulder, in the absence of a crease, may be formed in the heel prior to the attachment of the breast covering, or it may result from a difference in thickness between the materials which form the panel and frame portions respectively. Even in the case of heels which do not present a shoulder at the meeting of the panel and frame portions, the gage 64 may be adjusted longitudinally and may be employed to position the heel by contact with a side of the heel. While the end 74 of the gage 64 is pointed outwardly,'it is so formed as to present a blunt surface to the side of a heel when employed in this manner.

To enable the spindle 38 to be removed from the shaft 26, or to be replaced in the shaft, the gage 64 may readily be swung out of the way after loosening the screw 57.

As the buffing action progresses a very fine dust is formed which tends to adhere to the surface of the heel breast covering B. In order that the operator may view the progress of the work so that he can be sure that the surface has been properly cleaned without removing any unnecessary amount of material or impairing the appearance of the grain surface of the leather, it is desirable to remove this dust as it is formed. The removal of the dust is accomplished by means of an air blast which is produced by'a blower secured upon the opposite end of the spindle 26. The blower 80 rotates within a housing 82 which is mounted upon the upper portion of the frame 10 of the machineand which has an outlet 84. A pair of flexible pipes 86 and 88 respectively, lead from the outlet 84 to a pair of nozzles 90 and 92 respectively. The nozzles 90 and 92 are secured by clamps 94 which are each mounted for rotary and longitudinal adjustment upon arod 96, the latter being carried by a bracket 98 supported by the side of the machine frame 10. The nozzle 90 directs the air blast from the blower 80 to remove the dust caused by the action of the abrasive cover 40 upon the work, and the nozzle 92 directs the air to remove the dust caused by the action of the abrasive cover 36 upon the work. Each of the nozzles 90 and 92 is supported by its respective clamp 94 in such a manner as to direct the nozzle substantially tangentially to the periphery of the buffing tool and at an acute angle to the axis of the spindle upon which the tool is mounted. By reason of this arrangement the nozzles 90 and 92 serve to direct the air blast at the points where it can most effectively remove the dust from the heel breast cover, and at the same time the nozzles are out of the way of the buffing tool, of the gage 64, and of the shoe being operated upon.

A suction draft hood 100 (Fig. 3) is employed to catch the streams of dust carried from the work by the air blast issuing from the nozzles 90 and 92. A conduit 102 connects the hood 100 with the suction draft system with which shoe factories are usually equipped. A bracket 10 extending from the frame 10 of the machine, supports the hood 100, with its receiving end thereof directed toward the nozzles 90 and 92, and beyond the abrading tools.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine for buffing the panel portions of paneled heel breasts, comprising a rotary tool body having an unsupported end, a flexible abrasive member mounted upon and extending beyond the unsupported end of said tool body for buffing the panel portion of the heel breast, and a gage positioned beyond the unsupported end of said tool body and adjacent to the extending portion of said abrasive member for engagement with the heel to position the heel with respect to said abrasive member so that said abrasive member will operate upon the panel portion without engaging a frame portion of the heel breast.

2. A machine for bufling the panel portions of paneled heel breasts of the type wherein a shoulder is presented at the meeting of the panel portion and a frame portion of the heel breast, comprising a rotary tool for bufling the panel portion of a heel breast, and a gage having a pointed end directed away from the tool axis for engaging a shoulder presented at the meeting of the panel portion with a frame portion of the heel breast to position the heel with respect to said buffing tool so that said buffing tool will operate upon the panel portion without engaging the frame portion of the heel breast.

3. A machine for bufiing the panel portions of paneled heel breasts of the type wherein a crease is presented at the meeting of the panel portion and a frame portion of the heel breast, comprising an elongated rotary tool for buffing the panel portion of a heel breast, a support for one end of said tool, the opposite end of said tool being free, and a gage mounted upon said support and having a pointed end adjacent to the free end of said tool and directed away from the tool axis for entering the crease presented at the meeting of the panel portion and a frame portion of the heel breast to position the heel with respect to said buffing tool so that said buffing tool will operate upon the panel portion without engaging the frame portion of the heel breast.

4. A machine for buffing the anel portions of paneled heel breasts of the type wherein a marginal portion of a side covering of the heel extends over the edge of the heel breast and forms a frame portion of the heel breast, comprising a tool for bufling the panel portion of a heel breast, and a gage member having a recess to receive a frame portion of the heel breast to position the heel with respect to said buffing tool so that said bufling tool will operate upon the panel portion without engaging the frame portion of the heel breast.

5. A buffing machine, comprising a shaft unsupported at one end, a buffing tool carried upon the unsupported end of said shaft, a gage having a work engaging portion beyond the unsupported end of said shaft and adjacent to said bufiing tool for controlling the presentation of work to said butting tool, and supporting means for said gage constructed and arranged to provide for rotary adjustment of said gage about the axis of said shaft.

6. A bufi'ing machine, comprising a shaft unsupported at one end, a buffing tool carried upon the unsupported end of said shaft, a gage having a work engaging portion beyond the unsupported end of said shaft and adjacent to said bufling tool for controlling the presentation of work to said butting tool, and supporting means for said gage constructed and arranged toprovide for both longitudinal and radial adjustment with respect to the axis of said shaft.

7. A buffing machine, comprising a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame and having an unsupported end extending therefrom, a buffing tool carried upon the unsupported end of said shaft, a ring mounted on said frame and constructed and arranged to be secured in any desired position of rotary adjustment about the axis of said shaft, and a hook-shaped gage having a shank portion supported by said ring and extending away from said frame in the same direction as the unsupported end of said shaft and having an operative end beyond the unsupported end of said shaft and adjacent to said butfing tool to position work presented to said buffing tool.

8. A gage for use in machines operating upon shoes, comprising a hook-shaped member having its operative end pointed outwardly to enter a crease of a shoe operated upon, and having a recess adjacent to said outwardly turned end to receive a portion of the shoe.

9. In combination, a shoe buffing machine provided with a spindle driven from a suitable source of power, a bufling member carried in said spindle having an abrasive element mounted thereon, and a guide in 00- operative relation with the abrasive element whereby the shoe may be retained in such relation with the abrasive element as not to injure the heel of the shoe whilst the heel breast of the latter is being buffed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

NORWOOD H. KNOWLTON. 

